The Devon Closewool was developed in the second half of the nineteenth century by cross-breeding native Exmoor ewes with Devon Longwool rams.[8]: 797 The oldest known flock dates from 1894.[8]: 797 A breed society – the Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders' Society – was formed in 1923, and a flock-book was started in the same year.[4] By 1950 there were close to 230 000 head.[9] In 2009 total breed numbers were estimated to be 5 000. Of these, about 95% were distributed within an area in North Devon some 100 km across, coinciding approximately with the extent of Exmoor;[7]: 296 about 75% are within 20 km of the mean centre of distribution.[8]: 797
Characteristics
The Devon Closewool is of medium size, ewes weighing up to about 62 kg and rams up to 100 kg. It is solidly built, with strong legs.[5] It is naturally polled in both sexes, white-woolled and white-faced, with black nostrils and short ears.[5] The fleece is dense and of medium length and staple.[4] It is a hardy grassland breed, well suited to grazing on the grasslands and heaths of the uplands of its area of distribution.[8]: 797
Use
The Devon Closewool is reared for meat and for wool.
On lowland grass, lambs may be ready for slaughter at between twelve and sixteen weeks, when they yield a dressed carcase weight of about 18–21 kg; on upland grazing they may take up to twenty-four weeks to reach the same weights.[5] Ewes have good maternal qualities, and a lambing percentage of some 150–160%.[8]: 797 Ewes may be put to rams of a terminal breed such as the Suffolk or Texel to produce cross-bred lambs; these grow fast and quickly reach slaughter weight.[8]: 797 Ewes may also be put to ram of a breed such as the Blue-faced Leicester to produce more prolific cross-bred "mule" ewes;[5] this is however uncommon.[8]: 797
Ewe fleeces weigh some 3–4 kg, those of rams 5–6 kg.[8]: 797 The wool is dense and of medium length; staple length is 100–150 mm, fibre diameter is approximately 35 μm.[10] It is used for carpets[10] or for tweeds and hosiery.[8]: 797